This page provides the standard Terms of Service for membership in my webrings in the WebRing.com system.

This page is part of WebRing.com Help,
my extensive reference section about the WebRing.com system. WebRing.com was born 12.Oct.2001 when
Yahoo! left the webring business. It was reborn in Oct.2006 when
it had a major redesign and began charging for what had been a free
service.

Sort of. Many webring owners (ringmasters) have "rules" about joining their webrings. So those "rules" are sort of like Terms of Service.

But I'm unaware of any other webring owner who has taken it to this extreme.

(Of course, I'm unaware of any other ringmaster that has taken webrings to the extreme I have. I'm just an extreme kind of guy.)

What is different about these Terms of Service?

There are two things.

First, I've modified all the "Join" pages for my webrings in the WebRing.com system to explicitly reference this page with both text and a link. And I've included text on those "Join" pages to indicate that "pressing the button" constitutes acceptance of these terms.

Second, with a secondary eye toward some parody and humor, I've taken a cue from corporate contracts around the world, including the standard Terms of Service of the WebRing.com system, to disclaim all responsibility for anything and everything.

What is an example?

Consider this rule:

I Can Take As Long as I Want To Approve You
I have the right to take an indeterminate length of time to review membership applications. In fact, if I want to, I have the right to just stop reviewing such membership applications without telling anyone when I'll start again.

I do work diligently to stay on top of these applications. But if you take a look at the list of webrings I own, you can easily understand why it might take me a bit of effort and why I might occasionally get behind.

I work diligently to get to your application within 3 weeks. But sometimes it takes as long as 6 weeks.

Finally, if you have some special circumstances or concerns, don't hesitate to email me.

Now, do you see the beauty of that rule. The actual rule absolves me of all responsibility. Then, the explanation of the rule (that italics part underneath that doesn't count) tells you that I work hard to get you reviewed timely, explains why it might take longer, tells you how to check on my progress and even gives you a way to contact me if you think it is taking too long.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a far away land, there were typewriters. Typewriters could not make big letters. Typewriters could not make bold letters. Typewriters could not make italics letters. So the men in charge of laws in the land of the typewriters decided that some words in contracts needed to be really, really easy to see. So these men decided that these words should be in "all caps".

Today, we've moved beyond typewriters. Alas, many of our lawmakers have not.

So, despite the fact that studies have shown that long phrases of "all caps" are hard to read, we keep putting some special parts of contracts (like warranty disclaimers) in "all caps".

Today, it actually works against the consumer by making it harder to read and understand. But, try telling that to the men who make laws.

How does someone agree to these?

The sign-up (join) pages for my webrings list a couple of these rules.

However, the WebRing.com system limits that page to 4,500 characters and that is insufficient to let me list all of these rules.

So, those pages explicitly link to this page and note that clicking the button to continue constitutes acceptance of these references terms.

In addition, my join messages and approval messages also reference these terms.

Why would someone agree to these?

You mean "Why would someone agree to a bunch of rules that seem to give all the rights and privileges to me and don't give them any rights or privileges at all?"

You did it when you joined just about every web based service that requires an ID and a password.

You did it when you applied for a credit card, when you applied for your job and even when you applied for your dog's (or cat's) animal tags.

So, I figured, why not join the crowd and have some fun while I'm at it.

Is this serious?

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds . . .

I mean . . . uh . . . what would make you think I wasn't serious?

Look, these are serious in the sense that they are the terms. But my goal is to have some fun with these, and to point out to those who take the time to read them, that while these terms seem absolutely and totally lopsided, they are just about the same as the terms you agree to all the time. The difference is that my open honest language makes it obvious while most documents are written in legalese designed to hide the real truth.

Is it serious? Yes. Serious enough to laugh at.

What are the rules?

1. Follow the Rules
You must meet these rules to be a member of the webrings I own in the WebRing.com system.

2. Meet the Webring "Theme"
In order to qualify for membership in my webrings, you must meet the "theme" of the webring. I describe these themes on the Hub/List page of each webring.

Of course, a couple of my webrings are set to admit anyone. For those, this restriction does not apply.

3. Have a Description that Clearly "Fits" the Webring "Theme"
In order to qualify for membership in my webrings, your description must clearly show how your site meets the "theme" of the webring.

For my webrings which admit
"anyone", just have a clear description of your site.

4. Do Not Abuse the Description
The description should clearly convey the nature of your site. Do not use it to spam search terms. And, be sure to include spaces in between your words so that the WebRing.com system can wrap the description.

In other words, do not have your description look like this:
surf,surfing,surfer,skate,sk8,skating,sk8ing,skater,sk8er,
rollerblade,inline,rollerblading,snowboarding,snowboarder,
snowboard,jesus,christian,god,alternative,punk,ska,hardcore,
radical,bible,church,biblical,young,freedom,money,rich,happy,
sad,cool,fun,fight,music,preach,gospel"

And, by the way, that wouldn't be an acceptable description even if spaces were added.

5. Use the JavaScript
You must use the system supplied JavaScript. Use of "native HTML" is not permitted for any of my webrings on the WebRing.com system at this time.

This means that MSN Community pages and YahooGroups pages cannot "directly" join my webrings. They can join. But they must use a workaround. See my page here for more information.

7. Put the Code on the Registered Page
You must put the webring code onto the registered page. You must register the page that will contain the code for the webring controls. The system must show your membership as "Pass". "Pass-L" is not a valid status for membership in my webrings.

It is ok to put the webring navbar stack on a separate page. But if you do, you must register that page. If you want to register the "main" or "home" page of your site, you must put the code on that page.

8. Link the Registered Page on Your Site
It is ok to use a separate page for your webring navbars. But, if you do, you must have a way for the casual visitor to your site to get to that page. And you must have a way to get from the webring page into your site.

Webring visitors should be able to find your main page. And visitors to your main page should be able to find your webrings. It should be possible and it should also be easy.

9. Do Not Register "Multiple Pages" in One Site
If you have created a site that has several great pages, do not submit multiple registrations for those pages. Instead, submit one registration for your whole site.

Webrings are designed to link "sites", not to link "multiple pages" within one site.

especially, do not do this when each of your pages is loaded down with affiliate links and advertisements. That is pretty clear that you are using a teeny tiny bit of content to try to drive affiliate revenue.
I do not permit this in my webrings.

10. If Your Site Is Commercial, Follow My Special Rules for Commercial Sites.
If your site is a Commercial Site, I have special rules that you must follow. Check out these rules. These special rules apply in addition to all of the other rules here on this page.

Note that some of my webrings do permit commercial sites.

A few are "shopping mall" type sites and are targeted at commercial sites.

Some allow all commercial sites.

Some allow commercial sites provided that the site has substantial non-commercial content.

And, most of my artist webrings prohibit general commercial sites but allow artist sites to sell that artist's work.

In other words, while my general rule is to not allow commercial sites, there are exceptions.

Do not misunderstand. I'm not a PeTA supporter. I do not classify eating beef or chicken or keeping a pet cat or walking in leather shoes as "animal cruelty". But real animal cruelty is something else.

14. Do Not Submit Sites for Puppy Farms or Kitty Mills None of my webrings admit sites from "puppy farms" or "kitty mills".

My webrings do admit sites from responsible, individual breeders. But I do not admit sites from puppy farms, kitty mills, pet shops or those who indiscriminately cross breed.

My webrings do admit sites from responsible, individual breeders. But I do not admit sites from puppy farms, kitty mills, pet shops or those who indiscriminately cross breed.

16. Do Not Submit Your Webring to My Webring
Almost all of my webrings deny admission to other webrings. They also do not admit pages which are
just a list of the webrings the webmaster owns. (There are a couple of
exceptions, but they clearly indicate that webrings are admitted.) It is ok to promote your own webrings on the page that joins mine, but it must be your site that joins my webring, not your webring that joins my webring.

I want surfers through my webrings to find something more than just another webring to surf. So, instead of submitting your webring, submit your site.

Let me emphasize here: it is ok for webrings to cross-pollinate or intertwine around each other. That happens when my webring navbar appears on the same page as another webring navbar. That is even good. But I want the substance of the page to be about something more than just
another webring. I want webrings to cross-pollinate and intertwine around actual content.

17. Do Not Register Your Webring Owner (Ringmaster) Profile Page
Unless you are registering for one of the very few webrings I own that permit memberships by
Webring Owner (Ringmaster) Profile Pages, you must not register your Profile Page.

There is nothing wrong with
Webring Owner Profile Pages. But, if we aren't careful, all webrings could become just memberships of other
Webring Owner Profile Pages without actually linking real websites to anything.

On the other hand, if you have customized your
Webring Owner Profile Page there is a webring just for you: Promote Your Profile.

18. Do Not Submit Directories or Link Lists or Portals
If my webring theme is "yellow flowers, your site must be more than just links to search engines about "yellow flowers" or lists of links to or a directory of or a portal to other "yellow flowers" sites. You site must have some content.

The goal of a webring is to join sites with similar content. Content needs to be more than just a list of links.

There is nothing wrong with "Top Site" pages. But
just as I don't let webrings join my webrings and I don't let directory lists join my webrings,
I also don't let "Top Site" pages join my webrings. All of these are just lists of other pages. Having a list of other pages join my list of pages doesn't seem to make much sense to me. Webring surfers want to jump to sites, not to other directories of other directories of other directories . . . .

First, I don't like those things. Second, I want my webrings to link actual sites, not lists of sites or directories of sites or . . . . I want actual, real, bona fide sites.

21. Do Not Submit a Catalog Page
Suppose I have a webring for cats. Do not submit a page that is nothing more than your catalog of cat posters or cat toys or cat themed gifts. This is especially true if that catalog is just a set of affiliate links.

Don't get me wrong, I don't object to affiliate programs. This site participates in affiliate programs. (Just click the "Affiliates" link in the left column or at the bottom of this page.) But I expect you to register something more than just a page of affiliate products.

22. Do Not Submit "Forums"
(except to My Forums Webrings)
except to my few webrings which are specifically for forums, do not submit
forums for memberships. I will not admit them.

I don't have anything against forums, per se. I just don't want them in my
"general" webrings. It is just a personal thing.

23. Do Not Submit "Blogs"
(except to My Blogs Webrings)
except to my few webrings which are specifically for blogs, do not submit
forums for memberships. I will not admit them.

I don't have anything against blogs, per se. I just don't want them in my
"general" webrings. It is just a personal thing.

24. Do Not Submit "Personal Begging" Sites
except to my one webring which specifically permits "Personal Begging" sites, do not submit such sites for memberships. "Personal Begging" sites are those which explain your particular crisis and request people to assist you by donating money to you.

While it is always possible that some of these sites are legitimate, the overwhelming majority of such sites I have encountered appear to be scams.

25. Do Not Require "Login"
None of my webrings admit sites which require "login" of any kind. If you require login your site is not admissible.

Sites which require login cannot be "surfed" through a webring. It is ok to have a "members only" section that does require login. But your site must have value to the webring surfer who does not choose to join.

26. Don't Have "Automatic Pop-Ups"
Pop-up windows are ok if the user clicks to request them. New windows are ok if the user clicks to request them. But don't have pop-ups (or new windows) that pop-up or launch automatically. I hate those.

Three things:

First, if you know of anyone who likes to have automatic pop-ups while they are surfing, please have them email me.

Second, if you find a site in one of my webrings which has
begun doing this, let me know.

Third, this ban will effectively eliminate all sites hosted on Tripod and Angelfire. These incredibly annoying web hosts insist on using popups. There is no reason for this.

27. Don't Use Aggressive and/or Annoying Marketing Tactics
These include, but are certainly not limited to: forced downloads, aggressive
pop-ups (mentioned above), forcing visitors to close the browser window in order
to leave the site, and other techniques which delay or annoy visitors.

Again, let me offer these two thoughts. First, if you know of anyone who likes to
visit a site using these aggressive and annoying tactics, please have them email me.

Second, if you find a site in one of my webrings which has
begun doing this, let me know.

28. Make Your Site "Work" Without Flash
It must be possible to view and navigate your site without installing Flash.

It is ok if you use Flash, as long as the site "works" without it.

That means, for example, that if you use a Flash splash page, you must provide a way to bypass the Flash splash that does not require Flash. Putting the bypass link inside the Flash won't work because if you don't have Flash you can't bypass it. Also, if you use Flash for your navigation, that is ok as long as you also provide non-Flash navigation.

Not all browsers support Flash. In particular, may browsers used by the sight impaired do not support Flash. And, Flash is not a part of the W3C recommendations (standards). Use Flash if you want. But provide a way for people who do not have Flash to use your site.

29. Make Your Site "Work" Without
JavaScript
It must be possible to view and navigate your site without JavaScript.

But I
also require that you use the "noscript" part of the
script so that it can work if the visitor's browser does not support JavaScript
(or if the visitor has it turned off).

I've visited some sites that test to see if my browser supports JavaScript, and
if not, they just display little picture to tell me that. That won't work for my
webrings. I expect most visitors will have JavaScript turned on. But it also has
to work if you have JavaScript turned off.

Special
note: this rule may make it very difficult for sites built with the Homestead
Sitebuilder to be accepted into my webrings. This tool uses page code requiring
JavaScript and even adds code to advise visitors without JavaScript that the
problem is somehow theirs. I have a strong objection to this practice.

30. Don't Bother Me With Sound or Music
Sound or music is ok, but you must provide an easy to use way for me to shut it down and turn it off.

And, by the way, remember that many of your surfers may be on a slow dial up connection and not really want to wait for an extra minute or two so your background music can load.

34. Do Not Submit "Temporary" Sites
None of my webrings admit sites which are intentionally "temporary".

The most common "temporary sites" I've had submitted are contest sites and sites promoting a specific one time event. These sites don't have a long life and I don't admit them.

35. Do Not Use Advertising Autoresponders for Your Registered Membership Email Address
You must not use an advertising autoresponder for your membership email. Period.

Some newbies in the webring world use an autoresponder email address as their registered email address. Then they set up this address to autorespond with an email containing a ton of affiliate links. That way, whenever you write them, you get back an advertising email.

This is dumb. Really dumb. The only people who can use your registered email address are (a) the WebRing.com system itself and (b) the
webring owner (ringmaster) of the webrings you join. Your autoresponder isn't going to generate any traffic or any dollars. It is just going to piss off the
webrong owners and the operators at the system. Don't do this. If you do this, I will suspend your membership in my webring until you correct it.

36. If the Webring is an Advocacy Webring, Display the Navbar
Members in advocacy webrings must display the navbar to all visitors at all times. Either (1) place the navbar in a separate stack or, (2) display the entire stack. The application confirmation email will contain more information. I can assist with this; just ask.

The purpose of joining an advocacy webring is to advocate the cause. If the webring navbar does not show, you are not advocating the cause. This requirement helps ensure that members join, not just to get traffic, but also to help promote the cause.

37. Get Me to Like Your Your Site
In addition to all other rules, I must like your site. If for some personal reason I do not like your site, I have the right to deny your membership in any or all of my webrings. I also have the right to deny your membership if I don't like you, or if I don't like your ISP, or if I don't like your web host, or if I ran out of cereal this morning. In fact, I have the right to deny your membership for any reason, or even for no reason.

I try to cover everything in the webring description. I try to explain what sites will qualify and what sites won't. But, bottom line, the choice is ultimately mine. I've had pointless conversations with applicants who seemed to feel that I was somehow required to admit them. I'm trying to convey in a mildly humorous way that
webring owners (ringmasters) do not have an obligation to admit sites as members.

38. Keep Your email Working
In order for me to be able to reach you, your email account must work. This is true whether you rely on the WebRing.com email system or use your own email.

Your email must work. It must not only be "legal", it must accept mail. That means the mailbox can't be full and it can't bounce my mail as "spam". If you change your email address you must update your user information at the WebRing.com system to have your new email address. If my email to you bounces, I will suspend you until you correct it. That is true regardless of the reason for the bounce.

39. Expect Me to email You
From time to time, I may email members of my webrings to provide:

Information about the webring you belong to,

Information about your membership status,

Announcements of changes in Terms of Service,

Announcements about new webrings I have created or adopted,

Information about new features,

News about the WebRing.com system,

News about other webring systems,

News about webrings in general,

And, any assortment of other similar "stuff"

Don't get upset when I do that.

For purposes of the U. S. CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, joining any of my webrings constitutes an explicit "opting-in" to the "list" for that particular webring and an explicit request to and agreement to receive subsequent "relationship" and "transactional" emails sent to the "list" for purposes of operating and promoting the webrings, my website and related functions.

If at any time you decide not to continue to receive my mailings for any particular list, just remove your membership from that webring.

I don't email "often". But I do email.

(If your site is suspended I may email you much more frequently, to nudge you to fix it.)

While I do not email often, I have to make a point of this. I have had members who have complained that even one email is "spam". Other
webring owners (ringmasters) have had members complain to their ISP about such mailings (see http://l.webring.com/forum?forum=manager;did=916#here).

So, because of this, I have to go to extra lengths to make sure it is very clear that joining my webrings means you will get mail.

40. Expect to Get Duplicate Mailings
At the present time, there is no way for me to eliminate "duplicate mailings". If you belong to more than one of my webrings, and if I send the same message to all of my webrings, you will receive more than one copy of these mailings.

I apologize for the inconvenience of receiving duplicate email.

I have requested that the WebRing.com system implement a way to eliminate these duplicates, but to date, nothing is available.

41. If You Are Suspended, expect email
If your site becomes suspended, I may email you every day to let you know its status has changed, to offer advice on how to restore it to active status, and for similar purposes.

So far, I haven't done the everyday email thing. Given the number of webrings I own, it would be difficult. But, I would like to figure out how to do it. Still, you won't get these unless your site becomes suspended.

42. Do Not Ask Me to Delete Your Membership
You signed up. You got a WebRing.com System User ID. You applied to my webring. When you decide you want out you promise not to write and ask me. Instead, log in and delete yourself.

This is another of my pet peeves. Joining a webring creates a responsibility. One of those responsibilities is to remove your membership when you decide to leave.

43. I Don't Have to Tell You Why
While I may, and generally do, advise members of why I have denied membership, and while I may, and generally do, advise what action may be taken to obtain membership, I don't have to. I have the right to deny membership without any explanation whatsoever.

I normally explain such things. I really do. But I've had to deal with applicants who repeatedly apply or who get angry with my explanation or who threaten to make a federal case out of it. I just need an out to deal with such problems.

44. I Can Take As Long as I Want To Approve You
I have the right to take an indeterminate length of time to review membership applications. In fact, if I want to, I have the right to just stop reviewing such membership applications without telling anyone when I'll start again.

I do work diligently to stay on top of these applications. But if you take a look at the list of webrings I own, you can easily understand why it might take me a bit of effort and why I might occasionally get behind.

I work diligently to get to your application within 3 weeks. But sometimes it takes as long as 6 weeks.

Finally, if you have some special circumstances or concerns, don't hesitate to email me.

45. I Can Delete This Webring Whenever I Want To
This webring is mine. All mine. Only mine. Period. End of story. If I want to delete it, I can. I don't have to notify you. I don't have to put it up for adoption. And I can delete it any way I want to. It is mine.

Could you tell I feel kind of strongly about this?

46. I Can Update These TOS
I have the right to update these Terms of Service from time to time without notice to you. You can review the most current version of these Terms of Service at any time at www.JamesSHuggins.com/h/rng1/wdc_tos.htm.

By the way, the "wdc_tos" stands for "webring dot com terms of service".

47. I'm Not Responsible for Diddly
You understand and agree that I provide my webrings "AS-IS" and that I assume no responsibility for the timeliness, deletion, mis-delivery or failure to store or respond to any user communications or personalization settings.

Of course, you know I intend to respond quickly. And I take pride in how fast I answer questions and help my members. I take that responsibility very seriously. But, just for the legal reasons, I need to not promise. You know how lawyers are.

49. I Can Screen Objectionable Material
You acknowledge that I cannot pre-screen all content on member sites, but that I have the right to refuse any membership that violates these Terms of Service, or is, in my sole decision, objectionable in any way, or that I just don't like for some reason.

I've tried to be very clear about all the things that can disqualify membership. But, just in case I've missed something, this is my "safety net".

50. You Get to Bear All the Risks
You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, your applications for membership in any of my webrings.

51. You Indemnify Me from Third Parties
You agree to indemnify and hold me, and my corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, co-branders or other partners, and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of Content you submit, post, transmit or make available through my webrings, your use of my webrings, your connection to my webrings, your violation of these Terms of Service, or your violation of any rights of another.

By the way, before you think I'm totally nuts, check out the WebRing.com Terms of Service in the Indemnity paragraph. Where do you think I got this one?

52. You Won't Complain About Me If I Comply
You agree not to complain about me or to report me to the WebRing.com system (WebRing.com) if I have abided by these Terms of Service.

Of course, since these Terms of Service mean I can do virtually anything I want, you are agreeing not to complain about me or to report me at all! So, this one is clearly over the top. But hey, can't blame a guy for trying can you?

53. I Get to Change Things Whenever I Want
I reserve the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, any of these webrings (or any part thereof) without any notice whatsoever. (Of course, I can give notice if I want, but I don't have to.) You agree that I shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of these webrings.

54. I Get to Stop Whenever I Want
You agree that I, in my sole discretion, may terminate your membership in any of the webrings I manage, and remove and discard any Content within such webrings, for any reason, including, without limitation, for lack of use or if I believe that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of these Terms of Service. I may also in my sole discretion and at any time discontinue providing these webrings, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to these webrings under any provision of these Terms of Service may be effected
without prior notice, and acknowledge and agree that I may immediately deactivate or delete your membership in such webrings and all related information and files related to such membership and/or bar any further access to such files or the membership. Further, you agree that I shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your access to these webrings.

55. I'm Not Responsible for Stuff I Link To
I may provide, and other third parties may provide, links to other World Wide Web sites or resources. Because I have no control over such sites and resources, you acknowledge and agree that I am not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and that I do not endorse and am not responsible or liable for any Content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. You further acknowledge and agree that I shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in
connection with use of or reliance on any such Content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource.

56. Some of This Stuff is Mine
You acknowledge and agree that the webrings I manage and any necessary software used in connection with these webrings ("Software") contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws. Except as I expressly authorize, you agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on my webrings or the "Software", in whole or in part.

a. YOUR USe OF MY WEBRINGS IS AT YOUR SOLe RISK. THESe WEBRINGS ARe PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLe" BASIS. I eXPReSSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIeS OF ANY KIND, WHeTHER eXPReSS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIeS OF MeRCHANTABILITY, FITNeSS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSe AND NON-INFRINGeMeNT.

b. I MAKe NO WARRANTY THAT (i) THESe WEBRINGS WILL MeeT YOUR ReQUIReMeNTS, (ii) THESe WEBRINGS WILL Be UNINTeRRUPTED, TIMeLY, SECURe, OR eRROR-FRee, (iii) THE ReSULTS THAT MAY Be OBTAINED FROM THE USe OF THESe WEBRINGS WILL Be ACCURATe OR ReLIABLe, (iv) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SeRVICeS, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATeRIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THESe WEBRINGS WILL MeeT YOUR eXPECTATIONS, AND (v) ANY eRRORS IN THE SOFTWARe WILL Be CORRECTED.

c. ANY MATeRIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISe OBTAINED THROUGH THE USe OF THESe WEBRINGS IS DONe AT YOUR OWN DISCReTION AND RISK AND THAT YOU WILL Be SOLeLY ReSPONSIBLe FOR ANY DAMAGe TO YOUR COMPUTeR SYSTeM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT ReSULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATeRIAL.

d. NO ADVICe OR INFORMATION, WHeTHER ORAL OR WRITTeN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM ME OR THROUGH OR FROM MY WEBRINGS SHALL CREATe ANY WARRANTY NOT eXPReSSLY STATED IN THESe TeRMS OF SeRVICe.

Remember how I wrote about sections of contracts being in all caps even though that actually makes it harder to read? Well, this is one of those sections. What do you think? Did having it in all caps make it easier for you?

YOU eXPReSSLY UNDeRSTAND AND AGRee THAT I SHALL NOT Be LIABLe FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDeNTAL, SPECIAL, CONSeQUeNTIAL OR eXeMPLARY DAMAGeS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGeS FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USe, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLe LOSSeS (eVeN IF I HAVe BeeN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGeS), ReSULTING FROM: (i) THE USe OR THE INABILITY TO USe THESe WEBRINGS; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUReMeNT OF SUBSTITUTe GOODS AND SeRVICeS ReSULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SeRVICeS PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MeSSAGeS RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS eNTeRED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THESe
WEBRINGS; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCeSS TO OR ALTeRATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATeMeNTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THESe WEBRINGS; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTeR ReLATING TO THESe WEBRINGS.

SOMe JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE eXCLUSION OF CeRTAIN WARRANTIeS OR THE LIMITATION OR eXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDeNTAL OR CONSeQUeNTIAL DAMAGeS. ACCORDINGLY, SOMe OF THE ABOVe LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Now, doesn't that make you feel better?

Actually this paragraph is pretty much required by U. S. A. federal law. Check out the paperwork you get with all the stuff you buy and you'll see almost these exact words.

60. I Can Send You Notices, But I Don't Have To
I may make notices to you via either email or regular mail. I may also provide notices of changes to these Terms of Service or other matters by displaying notices or links to notices on my website(s). And, if I don't want to, I don't even need to give notice.

61. I've Got Trademarks
The JSH Logo, "Refrigerator Door", "James S. Huggins", the design of this website and logos and product and service names are trademarks of James S. Huggins and you acknowledge these trademarks.

62. I Have a Way to Report Copyright Violations
I respect the intellectual property of others, and ask that my members do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or your intellectual property rights have been otherwise violated, please provide the WebRing.com system's Copyright Agent the required information as disclosed on the WebRing.com system Terms of Service page at dir.webring.com/h?terms.

63. This is the Whole Banana
These Terms of Service, together with amendments and supplements published in accordance with these Terms of Service, constitute the entire agreement between you and me and govern your use of my webrings. They supersede any prior agreements between you and me. You also may be subject to additional terms and conditions that may apply when you use affiliate services, third-party content or third-party software.

Almost all contracts have these little paragraphs at the end to cover all the administrative details. I borrowed some from the WebRing.com Terms of Service. Others are my own. And of course, I've made them appropriately irreverent.

64. Texas is Where It's At
These Terms of Service and the relationship between you and me shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You and I agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within the county of Dallas, Texas.

65. I Don't Have to enforce These Terms of Service
My failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms of Service shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

In other words, I get to be kind and generous without creating an obligation to be kind and generous.

66. Courts Will Rewrite the Contract to My Benefit
If any provision of these Terms of Service is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties' intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms of Service remain in full force and effect.

You'll see language like this all the time. Did you ever stop and wonder what it really meant?

67. You've Only Got So Long
You agree that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of my webrings or the Terms of Service must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred.

68. The Section Titles Don't Count
The section titles in the Terms of Service for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

They never count. Every contract has a clause like this. You'd think that we'd have figured out that they don't count and just quit telling each other. But no, stuff like this never stops.

60. Those Little Bits of explanation Don't Count either
The commentary I've added in italics and in boxes after the actual terms to provide additional information are for amusement only and have no legal or contractual effect.

I'm talking about paragraphs like this one.

A
Personal Note:
If You Want to Delete Your Webring

If you are considering deleting your WebRing.com webring, please do not delete it. Instead, please
contact me. I would be pleased to adopt it from you. I will personally work with you to make that transition smooth and painless.

I'm sorry. While I have long adopted webrings in the WebRing.com system,
because of the Oct.2006 changes, I am no longer doing that.

However, please note that "deleting" your webring is a fruitless exercise.
The system will just restore it and place it up for adoption.

Webring
News and Announcements

WebRing.com
Changes Big Time --- It was October 2001 that WebRing.com came into
existence following the end of Yahoo! Webring. Now, 5 years later, WebRing.com
is changing again. Moving from primarily a free service to primarily a paid
service, the system is undergoing massive change. Stay tuned.

Ringlink
Activity --- While
Ringlink has not released a new version
since
Version 3.2
on 21.Feb.2005, the system seems to be getting a lot of activity. Many people
are discovering this great webring system and moving their webrings here. If you
don't know about Ringlink,
definitely check out this great webring system. I personally recommend
it.

RingSurf
Passes 3 Year Anniversary --- It was 3 years ago, on 16.Aug.2003 when the WoW list list noted that RingSurf's domain name registration had changed.
Then the new owner came forward. A RingSurf Feature List was developed and debated. Then, on Thanksgiving day, 27.Nov.2003 the new owner posted on the WoW list that the new RingSurf is up! If you haven't checked it out lately, see what has happened in the last three years.

Article About Webrings --- Check out this excellent Salon.com article about the history of Yahoo! and WebRing.com: The Strange Saga of Yahoo and Webring. For some, it will bring back memories. For others, it will explain the history.
Now, I wonder if they will update it to talk about the latest WebRing.com
changes.

Articles About the WebRing.com System

WebRing.com System
see all my pages about the WebRing.com system,
including information about all the pages shown below.

The Webring Section is a large section of my website. I have divided it into four major "subsections".

General Information

The WebRing.com System

Webrings I Own and Belong To

The Wazillion Navbars Project

each "subsection" has it's own special "logo".

As you travel in the various subsections you will find, near the bottom of each page, links to pages within that subsection and also links to the other subsections. To go to any subsection, just click on the "logo" or on the text link for that subsection.

Webrings: General Information

This subsection includes general information about webrings. Webrings can be hosted by a variety of different services. This section deals with the overall concepts and issues, not with any one particular "brand" of webring.